Fixed connection between bad sleep and depression detected

How does bad sleep affect depression??

Experts have long suspected a link between poor sleep and the onset of depression. Now researchers have discovered a neural mechanism that is responsible for just such a connection. This discovery could improve the treatment of depression in the future.

Researchers at the University of Warwick and the Oxford Center for Computational Neuroscience have recently identified the mechanism behind the association between poor sleep and the onset of dementia. The physicians published the results of their study in the English language journal "JAMA Psychiatry".

Study included data from more than 9,700 participants

The experts found a strong link between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (responsible for short-term memory), the precuneus (associated with self-perception) and the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (associated with negative emotions). An analysis of the records of 9,735 people with a depressive illness showed that there is an increased activity between these brain regions in people who also report sleep disturbances. This is a crucial discovery, the scientists emphasize.

Results will have an impact on the treatment of depression

The relationship between depression and sleep was observed more than a hundred years ago, but now the underlying neuronal mechanisms have been identified for the first time, says study author Jianfeng Feng of the University of Warwick. These results provide a neural basis for understanding how depression is associated with poor sleep quality, and this in turn affects the treatment of depression and improving sleep quality, the expert adds.

Sleep problems and depression are interconnected

Researchers have hypothesized that brain activity may be a sign that negative emotions are present in the mind, and this partly explains why sleep problems and problems with depression are often related. People who have problems with depression also tend to suffer from insomnia or find it difficult to fall asleep. On the other hand, people with insomnia also have a higher risk of depression and anxiety. While this particular study found strong neural connections in the association of depressive problems with poor sleep quality, and not the other way around, the effects can generally work in both directions, scientists suggest.

Further research is needed

Further research is now needed to find out what role the lateral orbitofrontal cortex plays. A targeted treatment of this part of the brain could lead to great progress, the researchers speculate. The study's findings may allow scientists to find ways to help people with depression get a better night's sleep. In today's world, poor sleep and sleep deprivation have become a common problem that affects more than a third of the world's population due to longer working hours, nocturnal activity and increased dependence on electronics, study author Feng explains. (As)